Member Reviews
Mr. Lullaby takes the mystery and unanswered questions surrounding sleep and comas and twists them inside out, creating a terrifying land filled with monsters, evil, and horror. I did, however, find the ending rather disappointing after all the build up around Mr. Lullaby. The big bad was easily defeated in the end and the story ubruptly ends leaving me feeling lost.
This book is like the love child of Black River Orchard and the Pine Deep Trilogy. The relationship between Beth, Jax, and Gideon also reminded me a lot of Under the Dome. Overall, this story was incredible. I loved the characters and the unique blend of horror and dark fantasy. I imagine this one will stick with me for a while! It’s easily set up for a sequel, but can be left as it is as well. If there is a sequel, I’ll be first in line to get it with any other books this author writes!
Huge thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!
First, I want to say that I found this to be inventive and creative as well as subtly creepy. I didn't find it overly scary, but there was still a chill factor.
That being said, it took me forever to get into this one and I had to start several times. There's so much going on with characters and timelines that it's a bit hard to follow unless you have the time to sit there and read straight through, which is what I wound up needing to do.
I will admit the beginning was a little confusing for me. We are following 2 separate timelines and although it was clear which timeline I was in, it wasn't clear what they had to do with each other. It wasn't until about the halfway point that I began to see what was happening. Eventually both timelines converge and then the book was at its best. I loved the last 40-45% of the book. My main complaint is that the ending was too abrupt. I need more closure.
Lalaland is an amazing invention. It sounds both beautiful and scary. Like it might be a fun place to visit but not to live there.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
I loved J. H. Markert's debut The Nightmare Man. So when I got an email from Netgalley asking if I wanted to read his newest novel, Mister Lullaby, I was ecstatic! Unfortunately this one wasn't as big of a hit with me as the first one.
In the small town of Herald's Reach there is an old railway tunnel where, for over a century, horrible things have happened in and around the tunnel. People have gone missing. People have died. And some people, like Sully Dupree, have ended up in a coma. 3 years into his coma, Sully's older brother Gideon returns from war. And at the same time, the stones built to block off the tunnel start to fall, and more bodied start to show up.
In a story where dreams and nightmares start to mix with the real world, the citizens of Herald's Reach are at a loss. Is Sully fighting in another world to keep everyone safe? Or is a deranged copy cat killer on the loose?
Honestly it's so hard to even sum up a synopsis cause there is just so much involved in this story. It took at least 100 pages to keep the immense amount of characters straight. And maybe it's me, cause I watch a lot of horror, but I actually didn't find this scary. Gory? Yes. Scary? Not so much.
So my 3 stars reflect an startlingly abrupt ending and how long it took me to get things/ people straight.
I loved the premise. I loved the word building and the very clear descriptions of Lalaland (when you dream.) I will absolutely read everything from J H Markert and am thrilled he weaved The Nightmare man into this story so he can hopefully write other stand alones within the same universe.
Satisfyingly scary.. read with the lights on. A great horror book. Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher.
Let me start out by saying that Mister Lullaby is one terrifying read, especially in its second half.
Located in the fictional town of Harrod’s Reach, an abandoned railway tunnel has periodically created havoc and associated bizarre deaths over many years. It’s where a young comatose victim lives in a vegetative state after an accident in the tunnel. It’s really difficult for me to further summarize the story without giving plot developments away. The author did an excellent job in ratcheting up the suspense, and his portrayal of the main villain, a true monster of the human variety (oh there are the nonhuman monsters also) was quite well done. My only complaint is that the novel just sort of abruptly ends, making me wonder as to whether or not there may be a sequel in the works, but it did mildly ruin my reading.
My thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing an ARC of the novel.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: November 21, 2023
“Mister Lullaby” by J.H. Markert is the pseudo-sequel to his novel, “The Nightmare Man”, in that there is a connection between the two plots, but both novels can be read completely as stand-alones. The characters in both novels are different, as are the settings, so a reader won’t be completely confused reading each one individually, although I highly suggest both novels, especially for fans of Stephen King.
Since the tunnel in Harrod’s Reach was built, the small town has suffered significant loss, and although the macabre happenings slowed down once the tunnel was bricked over and closed off, something inside did not want to stay hidden. Now, the tunnel has once again re-opened, and grisly happenings are once again occurring. Citizens are dying, while others are behaving strangely, and it seems that only Simple Simon, the young man the town has identified as the “village idiot” and a group of civilians are able to save their town. A battle is being waged on both the land of the living and the land where nightmares come from, and only side will survive.
“Lullaby” has a large group of characters, and most of them narrate a portion of the novel. Although the speaker is clearly identified at the beginning of each chapter, the wide array of protagonists can hard to sort through at first. As Markert’s characters develop and began to develop their own individual personalities, the plot flows easier and the gripping tension begins (and doesn’t let up).
Like King’s “The Stand”, a group of selected individuals must band together, meeting in a place only seen in dreams, in order to help humanity and to keep a collection of nightmarish figures away. Markert’s evil creatures are literally the stuff of nightmares, from a woman who calls herself “The Black Widow”, a man with the horrifying moniker of “Fire Starting Freddie”, to Teddy, the leader with reindeer-like horns growing out of his head- not to mention the eerie personifications of the mythological creatures from various countries who haunt dreams and steal souls. No one will sleep easily after experiencing “Mr. Lullaby”.
I loved “The Nightmare Man” and “Mr. Lullaby” was a solid follow-up. Both novels were equally creepy, and, although the ending of “Lullaby” was conclusive, Markert ensures that some of his characters (both good and evil) will reappear again in future instalments. I hope to see more from Markert and from his deliciously horrible sleep-robbing beings!
Mister Lullaby is set in a small town of Harrod’s Reach where strange things occur inside an abandon train tunnel. Sully Dupree, a 6 year old coma patient briefly wakes with a warning about Lalaland and things trying to get through.
I loved the mix of human monsters and the introduction of mares with interesting bite-sized information about them. Well-paced story with unique plot and world building and *just the right amount of gore*.
While there are references to The Nightmare Man, this is a wholly different story, with more action, more mythological creatures, and more serial killers! I highly recommend you pick this up!!
I really expected to like this book a lot more than I did based on the synopsis. I love a good horror novel, always have, and this one was certainly creepy and unique in its premise, with great descriptive skills when it came to the tunnel and Lalaland. The character development was well done too. However, it took me a long time to get into the story, and it never had me on the edge of my seat which a great horror story always does, and the ending was a major disappointment for me. i don't mind a book that leaves me thinking, in fact I really like that, but this ending was the biggest anti-climax ever.
This book has it all for spooky season; creepy af, gore, and nightmares come to life. From the start Mister Lullaby brings the creepy and doesn’t stop until the end. I loved all the nightmares and folklore that was brought in throughout the book and brought to life, it was really cool to learn about other folklore that you normally may not know about. I enjoyed all the multiple POVs and how the Then and Now timeline came together seamlessly. I really hope there’s going to be a second book because that ending just what?!
Overall, I so loved this book and recommend it to anyone who loved The Book of Accidents or anything creepy and spooky.
After fighting in Afghanistan, Gideon Dupree returns to home a hero. With an underserved, to his mind, Purple Heart in his bag and a pronounced limp, the last thing Gideon wants is a hero’s welcome, but his mother has other ideas.
This is the introduction to the folk of Harrod’s Reach. A town with more than its fair share of mysteries and unexplained happenings, but nothing can prepare the residents for the arrival of Mr Lullaby
I loved this book, as I did the Nightmare Man. The writing has touches of Lovelace, Poe, King and Malfi, amongst others, a real treat for horror lovers. Not afraid to go dark and deep, Markert has set the bar for new horror stories and it’s pretty high!
The characters were really well written. Especially fond of Simon, a gem, reminiscent of King’s Tom Cullen.
I always admire a writer who is not afraid to kill off a main character if it’s good for the plot, and this author has no qualms at all of who must go!
For me this writing is excellent, an author who knows his craft, full of suspense, a joy to read.
p.s. great cover!
Thank you NetGalley.
There is an old abandoned train tunnel in the town of Harrods Reach. It's been nothing but a problem for the town over the years. After multiple people disappeared or were injured inside its walls, it was eventually sealed shut.
But now, the walls are crumbling, and something has awoken in the tunnel. Something is trying to find its way out. Mister Lullaby is coming.
This book is ALOT, a lot of characters, a lot of storylines, a lot of twists, and a lot of pages.. but somehow, J.H. Market still manages to present it in a way that is both palatable and enjoyable. Mister Lullaby is never dull or boring, but just might give you nightmares!
I actually read this book first and then read The Nightmare Man. They can definitely be read alone or in whichever order you choose. But there is a bit of overlap with the world's and some of its characters, so I recommend reading both.
I was originally drawn to Mister Lullaby because of its cover, which, while simple, was equally creepy and gave me serious King vibes. And it did not disappoint! If you're looking for your next spooky read, look no further than Mister Lullaby... just maybe keep the lights on 😉
As always, thank you to netgalley and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you for this ARC.
Are you following the bus? Are you a fan past and present lore? This book will definitely not disappoint. It had me smiling and engaged as I enjoyed each word and new page of information. This is a small town Lovecraft, King feel. You’ll get to the end and will surely want to know more. Have fun with this read. I did.
I just reviewed Mister Lullaby by J. H. Markert. #MisterLullaby #NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!! I have had nightmare man on my TBR forever! While there is a slight connection, it is not a prerequisite. This was definitely a creepy book. Small town horror. Including almost every aspect a horror reader would love. I’m excited to pick up Markert’s other works!
Chilling of a book..creppy and just the right kind of crazyness taking place.
I loved everything about this book. The characters were all brought to life in their own ways making it a brilliant book to read.
The setup of this book around the tunnel and lalaland was so unique. Great idea
I don’t want to sleep now..
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
I rarely find a horror author who manages to write more than one book that creeped me out and made me hesitate in the dark. But J H Markert has executed it repeatedly, and Mister Lullaby is no exception.
The story is written around the Tunnel in a small town in Nebraska. It's an old train tunnel that had been abandoned for years, and it is the stuff of myth and legend for disappearances, accidents, dismemberment and deaths. Not to mention the strange colourful creatures, plants and shells that are often found around the area, and no one has any idea where they come from.
Gideon comes back from war, sent home due to an injury. Beth is the deputy sheriff of their home town and is obsessed with the violence that surrounds the tunnel. Simon is seen as a simple man, who lives out in the woods on his own. And Teddy is a killer who is taking his instructions about killing comatose patients from a shell. And they all arrived in the small town, to the tunnel at the same time, but why?
This is a brilliantly written, atmospheric, creepy book, one that wraps all the myths about the things that prey on sleeping people, with characters so deeply flawed that they may not be able to solve the problem. The good guys are good, but the bad guys are truly evil, and you have no idea what they are going to do next. A must-read if you like to be scared!
When nightmares can actually cross over into our world, that calls for one scary book.
Have you ever thought, wow how could anyone do such depraved things...what if it was actually people possessed by folklore creatures that cause nightmares? This is what is occurring in Mister Lullaby. Only a handful of people can save the town from Mr. Lullaby and all of his nightmarish creatures.
This is a quick read and interesting read.
I had high expectations for Mr. Lullaby after reading The Nightmare Man. J.H. Markert’s first horror novel was a true win for me, checking off every box of what made a book perfect (in my mind). It is a book I recommend over and over again; to people who love horror, to people who love thrillers; to people who love fantasy; to people who love to read. Mr. Lullaby will be another one of those books in my own “top recommended” category.
If I’m completely honest, I struggled to see Mr. Lullaby as a sequel to The Nightmare Man until about halfway through the book. As a stand-alone, Mr. Lullaby was unique and enrapturing, however with the expectation that it was connected to The Nightmare Man, I wasn’t quite convinced. This novels multiple narrators and timelines made it easy to forget that the was any sort link between Markert’s two horror novels until the Mare Trees came to light. From there it all began to make sense. I still wouldn’t call Mr. Lullaby a sequel, but I do love the link between the two. Mr. Lullaby explains how The Nightmare Man came to be, however it doesn’t keep the storyline of the characters from the first novel. Markert does promise a true sequel for The Nightmare Man in the acknowledgements at the end of Mr. Lullaby, however I now actually feel more excitement for a sequel to or even a “through the looking glass” sort of novel for Mr. Lullaby.
I love that Markert took a plunge into the dark fantasy world of Lalaland in Mr. Lullaby. Even with this fantasy world as a major element to this story, it was still realistic enough to draw me in the same way The Nightmare Man had. While reading both novels, you could absolutely imagine many of these horrors happening in your own life, in a small mountain town near you.
Be sure to pay attention to the time line. Each chapter is listed as “before” or “now” along with the narrator’s name. If you have a tendency to look past that and jump right into the chapter, you WILL get lost. Otherwise the unique structure of the novel allows you to develop your own connection until, WHAM, the truth hits you.
Mr. Lullaby is another win. As far as I am concerned, J.H. Markert is right in the realm of writing he needs to be, and any subsequent novels he pens for those who love horror, dark fantasy, and thrillers cannot fail.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.
I really enjoyed this book, especially with the timelines being 'before' and 'now', as well as diary entries from a former detective in the town to add some historical stories to the town's folklore.
I've heard a lot of reviewers compare the author to being a good contender for Stephen king's throne, and I can see that in this book - it had similar feels to the plot and the writing style, but it still feel fresh and new to the horror genre.
overall, this was a really good, creepy small town horror story and I really look forward to what this author will write in the future.